1^st degree connections:

These include the list of people you’re directly connected with because you have agreed to accept their invitation or vice-versa.

You can see the 1^st degree icon next to the name in search results and on their profile. And you may simply contact them by dropping a message.

When someone is your 1^st degree connection, you can also access their contact details like emails and phone numbers.

2^nd degree connections:

Your 2^nd degree connections are the ones who are connected to your 1^st degree connections. In other words, you are not directly connected to this person, but someone of your network is.

You can see the mutual connections displayed just above the “Connect button” on their profile.

It is crucial to note that you cannot directly send them messages, instead you need to first send a connection request due toprivacy reasons.

Or else, if you want to avoid the connection request step, you can contact them through an in mail or an introduction and you will also see a 2^nd degree icon next to their name and on their profile.

Note: An in mail is a LinkedIn paid message that allows you to directly message 2^nd or 3^rd degree connection in spite of being not connected with them.

3^rd degree connections:

Your 3^nd degree connections are the ones who are connected to your 2^nd degree connections. To simplify, these are connections of your connections.

To contact them, you can send a connection request, however this option is now available under More-> Connect.

Alternatively, you can contact them through an in mail or an introduction and you will also see a 2^nd degree icon next to their name and on their profile.

There is also another category called “Out of Network” and contacts that fall outside each of the above categories are listed here. More than 2 people separate you from these people. Moreover, you can contact them through an in mail.

Maybe You would like this FREE COURSE - DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIST - Video course with step by step guide to building your marketing strategy online.